Bin actuated stop motion for ice making machines



March 31, 1970 P. H. DINGER ET AL BIN ACTUATED STOP MOTION FOR ICEMAKING MACHINES Filed Oct. 16, 1968 05 3 .k I TI s5 "mm D5 v o a m d 3 En O Or v United States Patent 3,503,222 BIN ACTUATED STOP MOTION FOR ICEMAKING MACHINES Paul H. Dinger and James T. Stultz, Orlando, Fla., as-

signors to Ice Industries International, Inc., Longwood,

Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Oct. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 768,115Int. Cl. F25c N06 US. Cl. 62-137 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Amechanism for controlling the level of ice discharged downwardly from anice maker into a bin at the expiration of a predetermined time intervalbeginning with but longer than the ice harvesting phase. At thebeginning of the harvesting phase, a feeler responsive to thedischarging ice and to the rising ice level in, the bin actuates a timerto start the time interval. If ice continues in contact with the feelerbeyond the expiration of the time interval, the timer will cause acontrol switch to open and thereby interrupt or stop operation of theice maker. If ice ceases contact with the feeler during the timeinterval, the timer will automatically reset itself for the succeedingharvesting phase thus permitting the ice maker control switch to remainclosed.

This invention relates to control means for automatic reversible cycleice making apparatus of the type disclosed in Patent No. 3,146,610 andin our copending application filed Sept. 11, 1968, entitled CyclonicHeat Exchange Mechanisms for Ice Making Evaporators, and moreparticularly to a delayed bin actuated stop motion operable in timedrelation to the ice harvesting phase of the cycle.

In conventional types of automatic ice making apparatus, water flowsover a vertically disposed refrigerated surface of an evaporator duringthe freezing phase of the cycle and, upon accumulation of a certain icethickness upon the surface, the harvesting phase begins during which thewater flow ceases and the temperature of the iced surface is raised toreleasethe ice therefrom into a chute and then into a bin therebelow.Various types of conventional control mechanisms have been employed forthe purpose of interrupting or stopping the apparatus when the ice inthe bin rises to a particular level. Such control mechanisms have notbeen entirely satisfactory in combination with the above-described typesof ice makers because the operation thereof neglects factors other thanbut equally as important as the bin level.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a stop motionwhich, when combined with reversible cycle automatic ice makingmachines, will obviate the abovementioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stop motion forautomatic reversible cycle ice making machines wherein a time delaymeans is operable for a predetermined time interval beginning with butexceeding the duration of the ice harvesting phase, said delay meansbeing operable to interrupt or stop the machine upon expiration of theinterval if a certain ice level exists in the bin.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stop motion for icemaking machines wherein a feeler is employed to detect the ice levelrising from the bin into a chute thereabove, in combination with iceoverflow means in the chute and disposed laterally adjacent the feelerto thereby prevent congelation and accumulation of ice above the feelerduring the harvesting phase.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved stopmotion for reversible cycle ice making machines, which stop motion isinsensitive to temperatures,

simple in construction, eflicient in operation and which lends itself toeasy diagnosis of certain operational defects and failures.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a part of the stop motionaccording to the invention in association with portions of an ice makingevaporator and ice bin, and a chute for conveying the ice from theevaporator to the bin, and

FIGURE 2 is a view looking at the right-hand side of FIGURE 1 andfurther showing in schematic form a time delay stopping meansoperatively associated with a conventional ice making refrigerationsystem.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotesbroadly a conventional reversible cycle refrigeration system asschematically illustrated in FIG- URE 2. This system may comprisecompressor 11, condenser 12, heat exchanger 13, surge tank 14, and anevaporator 15, said evaporator being connected to parts 11 through 14 ina manner more fully described in the aforementioned patent and copendingpatent application.

Parts 11 through 14 are connected as follows: High pressure dischargeline 17 connects motor-driven compressor 11 to line 18; line 18 connectsvalve 19 to the upper portion of condenser 12; line 20 connects thelower portion of the condenser to the lower portion of heat exchanger13; line 21 connects the upper portion of the heat exchanger toexpansion valve 22; line 23 connects evaporator outlet 24 to surge tank14; and line 25 extends downwardly from the surrge tank, through theheat exchanger, and to the suction side of the compressor. A suitablecoolant (usually water) from pipe 28 enters condenser coil 12a andleaves the coil through pipe 27.

During the ice freezing phase of the cycle, valve 19 is closed to causethe compressed hot gas refrigerant to flow from compressor 11, throughlines 17 and 18 and associated condenser 12 where heat is extracted bythe coolant flowing through coil 12a. From condenser 12, the refrigerantcontinues through heat exchanger 13, line 21, expansion valve 22, line29, evaporator refrigerant chamber 30, line 23, surge tank 14, suctionline 25 and back to compressor 11.

Concurrently with the flow of refrigerant as described above during thefreezing phase, water is caused to trickle downwardly over evaporatorsurfaces 15a and 1511 where a portion of the water is frozen and theremaining unfrozen portion continues downwardly through chute 33, grid33a and into sump 35. Thus, layers of ice are formed upon surfaces 15aand 15b during the freezing phase, after which the harvesting phasebegins.

The harevsting phase continues for a time interval sufficiently long topermit the ice on surfaces 15a and 15b to be released and to fall intothe chute 33 and bin 36 therebelow, said phase being measured in aconventional manner. During the harvesting phase, valve 19 is open topermit the hot gasified refrigerant to flow from compressor 11, throughlines 17 and 18, valve 19, line 29, evaporator chamber 30, line 23,surge tank 14, line 25 and back to compressor 11 to thereby thaw thebond between the ice and evaporator surfaces 15a and 15b. Thereafter,the ice falls into chute 33, upon toothed breaker cylinder 34, and intothe ice bin 36.

The stop motion hereinafter described is responsive to conditions whichprevent the feeler mechanism 38 from returning to normal position priorto the expiration of a selected time interval beginning with but longerthan the above-mentioned time interval associated with the harvestingphase. The most frequently occurring condition which actuates the stopmotion is the result of a predetermined high ice level in bin 36 andchute 33'. Upon occurrence of such conditions after the selected timeinterval expires, the

stop motion will effect stoppage of the ice making machine.

Briefly stated, the stop motion is composed of an ice feeler mechanism38, a time delay mechanism or clock 39, a clock controlling switchassembly 40 responsive to the feeler mechanism, and a clock controlledswitch assembly 41 for interrupting or stopping the compressor 11 uponoccurrence of certain conditions.

More specifically, feeler mechanism 38 comprises a. vane 43 fixedlysecured upon shaft 44 and oscillatable therewith from bold line positiontransversely of the chute 33 to dotted line position substantiallyparallel to the chute. A counterweight 45 attached to shaft 44 normallybiases vane 43 toward the bold line transverse position. The feelermechanism, when in the dotted line position, permits actuation of asuitable switch assembly 40 through a connecting linkage consisting arm46 cantilevered from shaft 44, and a vertically disposed rod 47 restingupon the free end of arm 46. An arm or lever 50 fixed upon shaft 51 hasits free end normally. resting upon the upper end of rod 47, said rodbeing mounted for reciprocation in sleeve 48 attached to chute 33. Itwill be noted that the downward movement of rod 47 is limited by acollar 49 fixedly secured upon the rod and engageable with the upper endof the sleeve. Vertical reciprocation of rod 47 oscillates lever 50,shaft 51 and the switch assembly 40 on the shaft.

Assembly 40 comprises a mercury switch as shown, or a suitableequivalent type, designated by reference character 54, said switch beingadapted to connect and disconnect conduits 55 and 56 which are includedin a circuit for supplying current to synchronous motor 57 of the timedelay mechanism 39. In the bolt line position of switch 54, thelast-named circuit is opened and in the dotted line position the circuitis closed.

During the ice harvesting phase, the falling ice rotates vane or feeler43 from bold line to dotted line position thereby permitting rod 47 tofall until collar 49 limits its downward movement, and furtherpermitting switch 54 to rotate to closed dotted line position toenergize motor 57.

The time delay assemblyis conventional per se and, therefore, it isillustrated schematically to disclose the broad principle involved. Itwill be evident to those skilled in this art that numerous variations ormechanical equivalents of timer mechanisms are currently available forthe specific purpose of automatically measuring a selected time intervaland for resetting itself to the starting position.

Motor 57 is drivably connected to shaft 59 upon which disk 58 is fixedlymounted, said disk having peripheral notches 58a therein. A radiallydisposed arm 60 has one end thereof rotatably mounted upon shaft 59 andits intermediate portion selectively engageable at 60a with notches 58ato thereby set the arm in a position corresponding to the expiration ofthe time interval measured. As shown in FIGURE 2, the point 60a on arm60 engages a notch 58a opposite the numeral 1 on the disk dial face,this Position indicating the beginning of the selected time interval. Asthe disk rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the outermost end ofarm 60 will rotate therewith until the dotted line position is reached,at which time the normally closed switch 41 will be opened, that is,rotated from bold line to dotted line position.

Switch 41 comprises an actuating arm 41a, a pivot 41c, and an oppositelyextending contact arm 41b. Current supply conduits 62 and 63 are part ofconventional circuitry (not shown) for automatically controlling theoperation of the reverse cycle ice making apparatus, the conduit 62being connected to one side of the motor of compressor 11 and theconduit 63- to the other side as described below.

The circuitry controlled by switch assembly 40 to intermittently operatethe synchronous motor 57 of time delay assembly 39 comprises conduit 55,connecting switch 54 to supply conduit 62; conduit 56 connecting theother side of switch 54 to motor 57; and conduit 64 connecting motor 57to the other supply conduit 63.

The circuitry whereby the operation of compressor 11 is controlled bytimer arm 60 and switch assembly 41 comprises conduit 66 which connectsone side of the switch contact arm 41b as at 41d to the motor ofcompressor 11; the current supply conduit 62 connected to the other sideof the compressor motor; and conduits 64, 67 connecting the other sideof contact arm 41b as at 410 to supply conduit 63.

As stated in detail above, the feeler vane 43 will be depressed to theopen dotted line position by the falling ice during the harvesting phasethereby permitting the normally open switch 54 to assume the dotted lineclosed position whereupon the time motor 57 will be energized to causeshaft 59 and arm 60 to begin rotation in a counterclockwise manner.Should the chute 33 and bin 36 become filled to approximately the levelindicated at 36a before the end of the harvesting phase, and if thislevel is maintained until the expiration of the longer selected timeinterval when arm 60 contacts switch arm 41a, the vane 43 will remain indotted line position, the switch 54 will remain closed, and the controlswitch contact arm 41b will become disengaged from contact 41d to openthe circuit controlling the operation of compressor 11.

When the ice is removed from feeler obstructing position, as by emptyingthe bin 36, the feeler or vane 43 will return to bold line positioncausing the ice maker to restart.

During the harvesting phase, and in the absence of filled orsubstantially filled bin, the total accumulation of ice upon surfaces15a and 15b during a freezing phase falls into the bin without rising tothe level 36a; and unless other conditions exist to prevent operation ofthe stop motion, the feeler or vane will resume its normal bold lineposition concurrently wtih the return of switch 54 and arm 60 to theirrespective bold line positions to begin a freezing phase.

During the harvesting phase, and especially when the ice level issufficiently high in the chute 33 to rise above vane 43, the accumulatedice above the vane would clog and congeal within the chute unless somemeans of escape is provided. Such an ice accumulation would be difficultto remove and, moreover, would prevent normal operation of the feelermechanism 38 of which vane 43 is a part. Accordingly, an opening 69 isprovided in chute 33, said opening being preferably located slightlyabove and laterally adjacent the feeler mechanism so that theabove-mentioned excess accumulation and congelation of ice in the chutewill be prevented.

In the drawings and specification a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been disclosed, and although specific terms are employedthese are used in a generic sense and not for purposes of limitation,the scope of invention being defined in the following claims:

We claim:

1. In combination with a reverse cycle refrigeration system having anice bin, means for producing ice during one phase of the cycle, andmeans for discharging the ice downwardly from said producing means intosaid bin during the succeeding cycle whereby the accumulating ice levelin the bin will rise upwardly along the ice discharging path, a stopmotion comprising time delay means operable for a predetermined timeinterval beginning with and exceeding the duration of said succeedingphase, movable means for detecting the presence of ice along said path,and means operable upon detection of ice by said detecting meanssubsequent to the expiration of said time interval for interrupting theoperation of said system.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further comprising meansoperable upon the absence of ice detection by said movable means duringthat portion of the time interval in excess of the succeeding phase forterminating said time interval.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said interrupting meansincludes an electrical circuit for said system, a switch in saidcircuit, and time delay means responsive to said detecting means.

4. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said interrupting meansincludes an electrical circuit for said system, a switch in saidcircuit, and time delay means responsive to said detecting means.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said time delay meansincludes a second electrical circuit, a second switch and a motor insaid second circuit, and means driven by said motor for opening saidfirst switch upon exipiration of said predetermined time interval.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further comprising anelongated chute enclosing said downward ice path and having the lowerend thereof terminating adjacent the upper portion of said bin, andwherein said detecting means is movable transversely of said chute, saidchute having an opening therein disposed laterally adjacent saiddetecting means to thereby permit said discharging ice to escape fromthe chute when said level rises above the detecting means.

7. The combination as defined in claim 2 and further comprising avertically disposed elongated chute enclosing said downward ice path,and wherein said detecting means is mounted in said chute, said chutehaving an opening therein disposed laterally adjacent said detectingmeans to thereby permit said discharging ice to escape therethrough whensaid level rises above said detecting means.

8. The combination as defined in claim 3 and further comprising avertically disposed chute enclosing said downward path, wherein saiddetecting means is mounted in said chute, said chute having an openingtherein disposed laterally adjacent said detecting means to therebypermit escape of said discharging ice when said level rises above saiddetecting means.

9. The combination as defined in claim 4 and further comprising anelongated chute enclosing at least a portion of said downward ice path,and therein said detecting means is mounted in said chute, said chutehaving an opening therein disposedlaterally adjacent said detectingmeans to thereby permit escape of said discharging ice when said levelrises above said detecting means.

10. The combination as defined in claim 5 and further comprising anelongated chute enclosing at least a portion of said ice path, andwherein said detecting means is mounted in said chute, said chute havingan opening therein above said detecting means for the escape ofdischarging ice accumulated above the level of said detecting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,445 7/1962 Mac Leod 62-l37WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 20061.21

